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by John Woolman (Author)
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File Size: 459 KB
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Publisher: HardPress (June 23, 2016)
Publication Date: October 28, 2015
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Top Reviews
FCD117Top Contributor: Poetry Books
5.0 out of 5 starsA Quality Work, An Unbeatable ValueJune 4, 2017
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
This book was free on Kindle. It contains an introduction, an overview, bibliography and biography. Then the journal is written in first person. I enjoyed this tremendously, mostly as a tool of education and inspiration. It is not necessarily high literature. It is more instructional and illuminating. As an individual who believes in Christian values, but struggles with certain matters of faith, I am continually drawn to the Quaker Religion. I have no Quaker friends or access to a local Quaker community. I depend on products such as this for education and inspiration. I am very grateful. Thank You...
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5.0 out of 5 starsShould be required reading for Christian Formation Classes!November 26, 2013
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Excellent classic book on missionary work and Quakers in the 18th Century. John Woolman was an early opponent of slavery and took every opportunity he could find to let his views be known. He was also an advocate for Native Americans and talks extensively about Native American culture in the mid 1700s. Very, very interesting. Instead of being scared off by "Quaker-speak', I found it refreshing, honest and clearly expressive of Woolman's love for the Holy Spirit. I recommend this book to anyone studying for the ministry and anyone seeking a closer relationship and understanding of how the Holy Spirit works in our lives...then, now and always.
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GeneBales
5.0 out of 5 starsA fascinating and inspiring bookJune 7, 2014
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I had never heard of John Woolman when I discovered through research that he was my first cousin, seven generations removed. He was a Quaker with a passionate commitment to equality, which led him to preach abolition of slaves to his fellow Quakers. The result was that the Quakers in turn became the leading force for abolitionism in the 19th century. Woolman's journal is long on a form of Christian piety not often seen at any time--a faith that understood the importance of living out the spirit of Christ in a world of exploitation and violence. He died only a few years before the American Revolution. I recommend his writing as something still very timely and inspiring.
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jeff
5.0 out of 5 starsGreat ReadJanuary 10, 2019
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This book was amazing. The journal Woolman kept is interesting and useful not only for those of us interested in spirituality and the life of an itinerant preacher, but also for those interested in history, as it describes firsthand life in the 18th century. The print is a bit tedious in this book, but other than that, I fully recommend it.
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Gregory W. Allen
4.0 out of 5 starsThis is an excellent example of how a Quaker brings his values and ...October 23, 2017
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
This is an excellent example of how a Quaker brings his values and applies them to his own life to live with integrity. It is also a good reflection of the state of Quaker thought belief and practice at the time.
I find Woolman easier to read than Fox, not just be cause the language is a little more modern, but also because he seems more humble.
It is an Amazon freebie so I can't complain, but I miss the navigation tools that most new Kindle books have.
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3.0 out of 5 starsTough readMarch 22, 2016
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It was difficult reading because of the old English language style. I slugged through it anyway. Was interesting to read the ridiculous arguments that people of that era had for rationalizing slavery. Woolmark was a good man who opposed slavery.
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Jeff
5.0 out of 5 starsRelevant TodayAugust 26, 2017
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
The spiritual insights and messages are timeless. However, the language is dated and cumbersome to navigate at times (though at other times it is quite lucid). Particularly relevant seems Woolman's message that a lavish lifestyle or desire of worldly "things" in and of themselves lead to systems of oppression, a necessity for their sustenance.
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5.0 out of 5 starsFive StarsDecember 5, 2016
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Great book. Works as advertised. I would recommend this vendor to anyone. :-)
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The Journal of John Woolman
by
John Woolman
3.41 · Rating details · 357 ratings · 52 reviews
This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work. (less)
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Published March 3rd 2006 by Kessinger Publishing (first published 1773)
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1432607790 (ISBN13: 9781432607791)
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Dec 21, 2010Eric rated it did not like it
I won't deny the importance of this book both from a historical perspective and from the perspective of its place in American pedagogy. As a matter of reading, however, it’s abysmal with horrible run-on-sentences overstuffed with paeans to the divine. Thus, “Mama told me to get a loaf of bread, a container of milk, and a stick of butter” would, in Woolman’s hands, become “Mama, her heart full of love for the Lord, asked me, through the grace of divine aid and in observance of the fifth commandment, to secure for her a loaf of bread such as that which Jesus fed to the multitudes, a container of milk praise be to God, and a stick of butter such that we would increase in fullness just as our hearts are forever increasing in fullness with the grace of the glorious savior.” Try making that a catchy cartoon. If one were to remove all of the attestations of faith, all that would left would be less a book than an anti-slavery pamphlet more worthy of your time.
The point is, this isn’t a “good read” in any sense of the act of ingesting words. The book has other merits, but this isn’t one of them. Lest you think that this affected writing is just an artifact of its time, compare and contrast to Franklin's autobiography.
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Oct 11, 2017Sharon Barrow Wilfong rated it it was amazing
The Journal of John Woolman gives us a look into the mind of a Quaker in the years just prior to the American Revolution.
The language is old fashioned and could easily be parodied today but if we focus on the substance and meaning of Woolman's writing rather than its quaint form, we can see the heart felt life ambition who sincerely and intensely devoted his life to furthering the kingdom of God.
Woolman did not intend his journal to be read by the public so there is a lot of minutia involving schedules of different meetings and visits with his fellow Quakers.
A lot of the journal is a record of what Woolman said and how he admonished his fellow Quakers, such as rejecting materialness and vanity and staying un-conformed by the world around him.
One interesting passage included his preaching against watching Magician Shows for entertainment. Apparently, he believed that such shows were evil and should be avoided. Who knows? Maybe back then they were. I'm sure his heart was in the right place.
His loudest message was his cry of compassion for Native Americans and African slaves is the most dynamic part of his journal. He believed they needed to be seen as equals and treated fairly.
Today we associate Quakers with the Abolitionist movement and rightly so, but it was Woolman rallied his fellow Friends and preached against slavery and pointed out its inconsistency with fellowship with Christ and Christian principles.
That seems obvious to us today but we were not born in that environment and I doubt any of us could guarantee what our attitude would be. After all, is there slavery and oppression today throughout the world? What are we doing about it?
This book was a part of my Harvard Classics collection and I think these writers of the past are important to read so we don't forget true history and are able to be informed enough to reject the fashionable revisionist history that is popular today. (less)
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Dec 12, 2011Joshua added it
Shelves: hippie, economics, sabbatical11-12
(refers to the Project Gutenberg edition:http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/37311 )
Woolman strikes me as a man ahead of his time. While we associate him mostly with antislavery, a few sections of his journal also resonate with other current topics of interest:
On the simple life: "My mind, through the Power of Truth, was in a good degree weaned from the Desire of outward Greatness, and I was learning to be content with real Conveniences, that were not costly; so that a Way of Life, free from much E ...more
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Jan 18, 2016Asher rated it did not like it
Shelves: 2016-book
As a descendant of enslaved Africans, I fully appreciate the life's work of John Woolman, he is a man that merits distinction and should be held in high regard. His contributions to the abolitionist movements are immeasurable and noteworthy. However, as a reader of his journal, I'm less impressed by John Woolman the writer. I will borrow Woolman's words to explain my annoyance:
" In the uneasiness of body which I have many times felt by too much labor, not as a forced but a voluntary oppression, I have often been excited to think on the original cause of that oppression which is imposed on many in the world. The latter part of the time wherein I labored on our plantation, my heart through the fresh visitations of heavenly love, being frequently spent in reading the life and doctrines of our blessed Redeemer, the account of the sufferings of martyrs, and the history of the first rise of our Society, a belief was gradually settled in my mind, that if such as had great estates generally lived in the humility and plainness which belong to Christian life, and laid much easier rents and interests on their land and moneys, and thus led the way to a right use of things, so great a number of people might be employed in things useful, that labor both for men and other creatures would need to be no more than an agreeable employ, and divers branches of business, which serve chiefly to please the natural inclinations of our minds, and which at present seem necessary to circulate that wealth which some gather, might, in this way of pure wisdom, be discontinued. "
He led a 4 star life. His unedited journal is 1 star at best. After weeks of frustration in reading incessant run-on sentences; I terminated the project.
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Mar 14, 2016Mark Valentine rated it really liked it
Why I kept reading this autobiography even though at times it seemed redundant was to discover that the turning point for an individual is also the turning point of a movement. Let me explain: Not only did he have a religious conversion, something he writes about in the early pages of the narrative, but he also converts away from slavery toward abolitionism. When you consider that he lived from 1720-1772, and that at time even Quakers held slaves, to go away from this one hundred years BEFORE it was a movement and eventually a Cause for fighting a War is fascinating.
Woolman made a conscious, rational decision and then went to work trying to persuade others to have the same position. I am glad to have read it and admire the man immensely as a pioneer in the Civil Rights movement almost two hundred years before it was a banner issue. In a quiet way, it has a greater pedigree than Paine's, "Common Sense," or Woostonecraft's "Vindication of the Rights of Women," because in his quiet way he writes about how he went about persuading one Quaker at a time to abandon slavery as an institution.
Read it to find how to live courageously too. (less)
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Mar 16, 2011Kirt rated it it was amazing · review of another edition
Shelves: religion
John Woolman’s journal proves him to have been wonderfully meek and devoted. To him, no discomfort or misfortune was without a silver lining or a pleasing mercy bestowed by God. He strove (usually, with success, I think) to perceive the will of the Lord in every undertaking. He had a highly educated conscience that moved him to constant humility in beseeching forgiveness of his errors. He was tireless in pure, selfless service for the relief of the lowliest creature and for the purposes of the Highest. I am very glad to have peered into the heart of this man through his own eloquent hand. I hope I have learned from him. (less)
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Oct 23, 2013Shawn rated it liked it
This is one of many books in the public domain that are totally free. God only knows how I chose to embark upon the reading of this particular book amongst so many, but reading this journal has been very delightful.
John Woolman was a Quaker preacher that lived in the middle of the 18th century. Much of the journal relates his travels to protest against slavery and war. This journal is not something that should really be reviewed. Instead, I feel inclined to simply list important elements of wisdom that I gleaned from the reading, along with some direct quotations of Woolman’s, with of course citing appropriate credit to John Woolman for all that follows:
On Speaking Out:
Do not say more than is required. Instead, recognize those times when the pure spirit is inwardly moving upon your heart and wait in silence until then. When you feel the rise of the spirit then, and only then, stand and “bellow like a trumpet”. There is harmony in the voice which divine love gives utterance. Keep always to the channel of truth. Do not seek for words but utter that to people which truth opens for you. Be not afraid to offend Men who take offence at the truth. The fear of man brings a snare. Encourage a holy emulation.
How to be:
Love God in all his manifestations in the visible world. Do not become snared in a quest for popularity. Be an unflinching witness against wickedness. Clear your life from any dependence on evil. Do not act to the Standard of others, but make the Standard of Truth manifest to others.
Strive for that state where the mind is devoted to serve God and all wants are bounded by his wisdom. Pray that God will preserve you from all corruption. Be weaned from the desire for outward greatness. Be seasoned with God’s salt and let grace abound within you. Be drawn away from the vanities of the world into an inward acquaintance with Christ.
Be firm in that which you certainly know is right for you. You cannot please all men if you are honest in declaring that which truth has opened in you. Stand separate from every wrong way. Attend to that Holy Spirit that sets bounds to the desires. Feel the clothing of divine fortitude.
If selfish views have any room in our minds we are unfit for the Lord’s work. Let no motion be attended to but that of the pure Spirit of Truth. Feel the power of the cross to crucify all that is selfish within you. Receive the gifts of Providence thankfully and deploy such gifts as God intends. Do not let Gods gifts be perverted. Do not let your life become a blaspheming to the Holy name of God.
“O that our eyes may be single to the Lord!” –John Woolman
Have compassion:
Be filled with a yearning compassion for the sorrows of humanity. Be as a sensitive, nerve, over which creeps the oppressions of the earth. Feel the misery of fellow-beings who are separated from divine harmony. Feel the sufferings of those you love, just as you would feel your own children’s sufferings. Be full of anguish over the sorrows of humanity. Have a desire for the everlasting welfare of your fellow creatures. Exhibit the affectionate care of a good man for his brother in affliction.
On unnecessary toil & simplicity:
Be careful to guard against extravagance. Do not become bent down beneath unnecessary toil to support your outer greatness. Don’t let the calmness of life be changed into hurry by eagerly pursuing outward treasure. Embrace the simple life.
Too much labor makes the understanding dull and intrudes upon the harmony of the body. The production of luxuries does not relieve economic distress. Redeem yourself from worldly pleasures. Fix yourself upon those joys that do not fade away. Do not be anxious after perishable things. A humble man with the blessing of the Lord may live on very little. Commonly, an increase in worldly wealth only breeds a desire for more and more wealth. Enter deeply into the happiness of humility. Let no earthly possessions bias your judgment.
On the exploitation of others:
Do not exploit those who labor for you. Work for a society within which no man profits by degradation of his fellowmen. Labor in accordance with the gifts bestowed upon you by God. The principal ground of oppression is the desire to gratify inclinations to luxury and superfluities. Experience the work that is carried on by the Holy Spirit instead of the work that is carried on by earthly might and power.
On seeking the exaltation of the peaceable Kingdom of Christ:
Desire that the Kingdom come. Work to hasten it in. Christianity must be extended until human society is transformed by the supernatural power by which it was consciously born. Promote the Lord’s work in the Earth. Seek to have universal love for all of your fellow-creatures. Let nothing hinder you from the steady attention to God.
The spiritual kingdom will subdue and break in pieces all Kingdoms that oppose it. The peaceable Kingdom will gradually be extended to the ends of the earth in completion of those prophecies already begun that “Nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, nor learn war anymore”. Turn the hearts of the mighty and make way for the spreading of truth on the Earth. You are improving a wilderness. Seek that the pure peaceable Government of Christ may spread and prevail amongst mankind. A few of John Woolman’s many insights on this matter are included below:
“God is graciously moving on the Hearts of People, to draw them off from the desire of wealth, and bring them into such a humble, lowly, way of living, that they may see their way clearly to repair to the Standard of true Righteousness; and not only break the yoke of oppression but know him to be their strength and support.” –John Woolman
“In purity of heart the mind is divinely opened to behold the nature of universal Righteousness, or the Righteousness of the Kingdom of God.” –John Woolman
“Great treasures managed in any other spirit than the Spirit of Truth disorders the affairs of society, for hereby the good gifts of God in this outward creation are turned into the channels of worldly honor.” –John Woolman
“Many are the vanities and luxuries of the present age, and in laboring to support a way of living conformable to the present world, the departure from that wisdom that is pure and peaceable has been great.” –John Woolman.
“The opening of that spring of living waters, which the true believers in Christ experience, by which they are redeemed from pride and covetousness, and brought into a state of meekness, where their hearts are enlarged in true love toward their fellow creatures universally.” –John Woolman
The prophet Isaiah declared that a time was coming when “swords should be beaten into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks and that nation shall not lift up sword against nation, nor learn war anymore”. In true sanctification, the understanding is opened up to behold the peaceable harmonious nature of the Kingdom. Behold people within whom this light has already broken forth.
On Righteousness:
We are drawn to seek Righteousness, which flows out of God like a pure river of life-giving water. As the mind is moved to love God as an invisible incomprehensible Being, by the same it is moved to love all God’s manifestations in the visible World, of which Christ is one. Acting out of love and truth produces spiritual treasure that far exceeds the worth of any temporal treasure. Mortify that which remains in us that is of this world. Consider the force of your examples.
On War:
Cease from national contests that are productive of misery and bloodshed. Instead, submit the cause to God. The proceedings in wars are inconsistent with the purity of the Christian Religion. Mutual hatred arises in the minds of the children of those nations engaged in war with each other.
“Our heavenly Father doth not require us to do evil, that Good may come of it.” –John Woolman
On Adversity:
If, for the further promotion of his gracious purpose in the Earth, he should give us a taste of that bitter cup which his faithful ones have often partaken of, let us be right prepared to receive it. Rejoice in the midst of adversity.
On Worship:
Let us prepare our hearts to truly adore him and inwardly turn away from that spirit and all its workings which is not of him. Be purged of dross and open to discipline. No enjoyment is equal to that which we partake of in fully resigning ourselves to the divine Will.
A Guide to the Journal of John Woolman (less)
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Mar 12, 2014Weathervane rated it liked it
Shelves: non-fiction
Interesting to contrast Woolman's approach to life with that of Ben Franklin's -- as Woolman was a firm believer in God's plan for mankind, and His touch of providence in all human affairs, he was wont to submit to ill circumstances that befell him, choosing to view them as divine reproofs. He wasn't inclined to worry about future contingencies, such as how well he would eat or the shelter he would find; he seemed to place great faith in the proverb of the sparrow. This is a fruit -- or nut, depending on your perspective -- of the Quaker doctrine, of which the best example of its fatalism is its adherence to pacifist thought. Woolman and his Quaker family didn't believe in taking up arms even for the purpose of self-defense; in one of the Quakers' letters they essentially submit their survival as a group to God's will, as follows:
"... let us constantly endeavor to have our minds sufficiently disentangled from the surfeiting cares of this life, and redeemed from the love of the world, that no earthly possessions nor enjoyments may bias our judgments, or turn us from that resignation and entire trust in God to which his blessing is most surely annexed; then may we say, 'Our Redeemer is mighty, he will plead our cause for us.' (Jer. 1. 34.) And if, for the further promoting of his most gracious purposes in the earth, he should give us to taste of that bitter cup of which his faithful ones have often partaken, O that we might be rightly prepared to receive it!"
The Quakers welcomed death, were it part of God's plan, and John Woolman, though ostensibly possessing a strong American individualist streak exemplied by his outspoken opposition to slavery, came by such a trait via his devotion to his own conscience, to which he believed God dictated His will. Quite different, then, was the true nature of his character than one might believe had one only the opportunity to observe his physical actions; by reading his thoughts we understand that his abolitionism was borne not from a rebellious spirit but from an unshakeable devotion to God. This complete submission in all aspects of life couldn't be more different from Franklin's committment to individual industry. Woolman, his motivation deriving from an internal spring, nevertheless thought the waters were there by God's intent; Franklin's motivation was nigh-entirely sourced from his own personal will.
We further see their philosophies diverge as Woolman pontificates on the marketplace, consumerism, and the hazards to the soul therein. He looked upon expensive luxuries and anything unnecessary to one's survival as complete superfluities, unbefitting a man of God in which to partake. Franklin, while recognizing the dangers of wallowing in excess pleasures, saw no moral imperative to forsake every triviality; it's well-known his love of food and clothes, though he warns extensively against the overindulgence of the former.
Of particular irritance to me in reading Woolman's journal was his effusively righteous narration -- not, of course, that he preached down to the reader, as no one could deny he was a humble man; but the way in which every feeling, every action, every major event, could be brought back to God and His will, and the loving obedience we ought to show towards Him, began to remind me of one of those Christian radio shows often found on the AM dial: There is no problem that cannot be solved by prayer's proper application, and the practical issues of everyday life may, with nary a loss of matter, be easily transmuted into abstract wonderings of God's grace towards humankind. Woolman's religiousity, frankly, was outright obsession -- at first a refreshing turn, when one considers how many people profess but do not follow with any real assiduity their Holy Book of choice -- but quickly prodding my patience, as he began to sound like one of those tremendously charismatic persons who cannot shut up about their favourite hobby, even when no one around them has any interest whatsoever. "Zeal" has distinct potential to be interpreted as a sort of unhealthy autistic fixation, and it's hard to exempt Woolman from the diagnosis.
In a comical vein, I appreciated his concerns about the sailing trade, and all the vices part and parcel. Perhaps it's easy to say from my modern vantage point, but what, really, did he expect upon boarding with sailors? Surely the shipping industry had by that time gained a considerable reputation for immorality; I find it hard to believe he could be so ignorant of sailors' scandalous behaviour. Then, he was fairly cloistered in the Quaker community at a young age, so perhaps he never got wind of such; surely his elders would've been hard at work to protect him from the sins of the world. Incidentally, Ben Franklin ought to've been glad at not having become a sailor, as he orginally planned -- I can't imagine he would've turned out half as well.
I'd be remiss not to point out how little substance the book as a whole contains, probably an inevitability, when one considers that it is, after all, merely a journal; but I still believe about half the book could be cut, as it consists mainly of dull exposition about to which far-flung meeting Woolman headed next. The spiritualism, the unabashed moralizing, both I found pleasure in, given that the works of the modern age are usually soaked in America's built-up hedonism, and I particularly appreciated Woolman's points on living a simple life -- I can't disagree that one should strip out those trivialities which fail to add meaning or actual, bonafide joy to one's existence; and though for him that meaning ought to be exclusively derived from God, I'm sure, if he were alive, he'd be munificent enough not to belabour my disagreement.
Worth reading, especially for the historical information; it might, however, be better packaged as a judicious selection of quotes. (less)
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Feb 13, 2011Earl Grey Tea rated it it was ok
Shelves: history, non-fiction, auto-biography
John Woolman cries way too much.
Every other page it seems he is crying for joy or sadness or asking the big fella upstairs to give him some strength.
While he does have some excellent commentary on life in the 18th century American colonies and some great arguments against slavery through the philosophy of Quakerism, much of the book is just him telling which Daily, Weekly, Monthly, or Yearly meeting that he has attended. I am no better off knowing that he attended the Sasquanna Weekly.
I think th ...more
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May 10, 2011Carsten Thomsen rated it really liked it · review of another edition
Woolman began to write this journal in 1756 and it continued to within a few days of his death in 1772.
I liked this book for several reasons. We get a glimpse into the Christian fellowship of the Quakers - we follow a man who fervently yet in a quiet and polite manner are speaking against the slave-trade and those who are keeping slaves. And raising his voice against numerous injustices he encounters on his many journeys.
And finally we read about Woolman's inner spiritual journey - his constant desire to live close to God, listening to His voice. (less)
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Oct 16, 2016Connor rated it really liked it
This is the journal of a great man, travelling around trying to convince people not to own slaves in 1763. It also cover his thoughts, trials, and tribulations while travelling the continent before it was tamed.
It has some great thoughts on disease and its 'holiness' as well as his dealings with Native Americans at the time. I would definitely recommend this for someone wondering how exactly people dealt with owning slaves and religion.
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Nov 27, 2018Donald Luther rated it it was ok
Reading this volume so soon after completing 'The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin,' written almost concurrently, amply shows the range of intellectual life in the 18th-century colonies. Franklin, secular, a printer, and making his way into the upper circles of Philadelphia society, shows that part of the American character that pursued success and reputation. Woolman, a devout member of the Friends, a tradesman only when he needed to be, and moving among the Quaker families that established the middle colonies (he travelled from his home in New Jersey as far north as Boston and south to Carolina), gives us a journal that is bursting with his sense of the overwhelming presence of God in his life, and shows the reverse side of the coin of American character--the American's belief in his exceptionalism.
As a historian, I found Woolman's journal interesting in the sense that he rarely wrote about family. The birth of his children is never discussed and any mention of their existence comes as a shock. His wedding is described very briefly and his wife thereafter simply occupies a shadowy background, mentioned only when he returns from his travels, to mention that she is 'well.'
His very early anti-slavery crusade is covered well and he seemed justly proud of his efforts to convince Friends to remove themselves from the institution and the trade. 'Proud' would not be a word Woolman would embrace, since nothing he did, said, or even thought about was his own, but rather a sign of the influence of God in him. In that sense, he was clearly different from Franklin. Franklin was clearly a man of his own time, the Enlightenment, looking forward to a much more reasonable rational world. Woolman, it seemed to me, would have been much more comfortable in the 17th century.
As a final, personal note, Woolman struck me as a tedious busybody. This was a man who entered a public house one evening and, after securing the owner's permission, would accost all who entered because they were about to have an evening's entertainment by a juggler, seeing this as an unsuitable pastime. He reminds me of the street-corner proselytizer, declaring all who are moving about their daily lives are somehow sinners and bound for damnation. (less)
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Jan 21, 2018Eline rated it liked it
Shelves: harvard-classics
In this case I had fresh confirmation that acting contrary to present outward interest,
from a motive of Divine love and in regard to truth and righteousness, and thereby incurring the resentments of people, opens the way to a treasure better than silver, and to a friendship exceeding the friendship of men.
By all appearances John Woolman was a humble, compassionate, idealistic American quaker who felt the suffering of the world keenly and who gave up his own comfort and safety to travel widely and speak up against oppression. In a time when very little people cared, Woolman was struck by the inhumane treatment of African slaves and was constantly on the move to convince his fellow Friends to abolish this evil practice and give African Americans their freedom. War was still violently erupting between native Americans and the English and yet he took great pains to visit the Indians and bond with them. Compare this to Benjamin Franklin who called native Americans savages who God felt pleased to wipe out in favour of the “cultivated” man and who considered speaking bad about someone as “blackening” them and you realise that Woolman was way ahead of his time.
The journal itself has nuggets of wisdom, but it can however be somewhat tedious. I'm not sure Woolman meant his journal to be published, and we are treated to a detailed account of to which meeting he traveled with whom, while the content of his meetings remain mostly vague. This can become very repetitive. I still gave this book 3 stars because I was really impressed by John Woolman's selfless way of living and how his mind was constantly occupied with the suffering of others. I also think that his analysis of the origin of oppression made me see things in a new light and is still very much relevant today.
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May 11, 2017JR Snow rated it liked it · review of another edition
Shelves: classics
Second work in the first volume of the Harvard Classics. I'm reading from the first edition, published in 1909. John Woolman was quite the character. A Quaker in the 18th century who was influential in ending the slave trade among Quakers in the colonies. What is most powerful about his character is firstly that he is a very humble person, and it is a joy to feel it come through as you read his journals. Secondly, he always acted out his principles, even if it would accomplish little in the real world. For instance, he wore very plain clothes like most Quakers, but unlike most Quakers he refused to wear dyed clothes, which stood out and earned him disgust among even other Quakers. He believed that wearing dyed clothes wasted material, hid dirt, and was showy! He also refused at times to have people send him mail because he saw firsthand the hardship put upon young boys in hurrying to carry mail by post, and he didn't want to contribute to that. I may not agree with him, but I admire him. Worthwhile reading. (less)
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Feb 19, 2018Phil rated it it was ok
Shelves: non-fiction
I read this book as it was included in the Harvard Classics list.
An ardent abolitionist who fought to free the slaves almost a century before the Emancipation Proclamation, Woolman comes across as both a credit to the Quaker religious sect and a humble, deeply principled man.
While it seems apparent that he did great work in dedication to his cause—convincing other to free their slaves at a time when even many fellow Quakers owned made use of slave labor— his journal is a dry read that mainly recounts his numerous visits to Quaker gatherings. While useful in an academic sense and of possible utility to Quakers themselves, much of the content herein is too tied to religion to be of general interest. Readers hoping for meditations on the institution of slavery in the tradition of Frederick Douglass are likely to be disappointed. (less)
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Oct 05, 2017Brian rated it did not like it · review of another edition
Shelves: ebook
The Quakers have weekly, monthly, quarterly and yearly meetings and in the majority of these John Woolman condemns the slave trade and everything associated with it. His reasoning is that fine luxuries are only possible because of this sinful and immoral practice. All the action takes place in the 1750’s in England and the English colonies of America, in which every other word is capitalized. If you enjoy reading sermons that are directed towards believers in Christianity and are long, boring and repetitive you will enjoy this book. (less)
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Jan 08, 2019Nick Sokol rated it liked it
A beautiful little book from a compassionate and gentle mind. Yes, on paper it is a boring collection of hyper religious notes documenting hundreds of various Quaker meetings. But where he pauses to pontificate on some social issue of interest, he shows that he was running an ethical operating system generations ahead of his time. While Woolman's austere religiosity may not be for everyone, he is a sparkling example of a simple, introspective, and thoroughly examined life.
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Mar 25, 2017Juli Anna rated it it was ok
Shelves: slow-home-research, spirit
My word, that took a while. This was my bedtime reading, which didn't help my pace, but it was also just incredible boring and repetitive. I was expecting much more inspiring spirituality here, but I found it rather dull. Mostly, Woolman just relates the mundanities of his travels. There is quite a bit of interesting writing against slavery, and a few bright tidbits of wisdom, but it was far less inspiring than I had hoped. Perhaps a biography of Woolman would be better suited to my taste.
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Aug 06, 2018Jack LaRouche rated it really liked it
The magnitude of John Woolman's faith pulsed throughout this book; the picture he painted of colonial America, and the jarring honesty of mankind's inner struggles with wealth and profit, really made this a damn good read.
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Feb 16, 2018Danielle rated it liked it
His various comings and goings are a bit tedious, but Woolman himself is an interesting character.
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Oct 09, 2013David rated it it was amazing
Shelves: christian-classics, spiritual-memoir
John Woolman was a Quaker who lived just prior to the American Revolution. But he is not known for anything to do with that, for he was fighting a much bigger fight, speaking our against slavery while the vast majority of people in the colonies still accepted it. Woolman did not just speak out about it, he put his words into action. If he was employed to write a will for someone, he refused to write the portion of the will that spoke of ownership and passing on of slaves. He encouraged the people to free their slaves. During his travels he would often stay with other Quakers who were slaveholders. In such situations, he insisted on paying for the hospitality he received.
You can read Woolman’s story in his journal. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – one of the best qualities of e-books is the cheap availability of classic works. Maybe I would never have read Woolman’s journal, which would have been to my own detriment, if I had to buy a hard copy. But at 99 cents? I will go so far as to say any Christian with an e-reader ought to purchase this book.
Woolman’s journal does not just reveal his anti-slavery work. It also sheds a light on a man who lived a simple, Christ-centered life. His words on overcoming the desire to get more stuff and instead being content with just enough to meet your needs are beautiful and challenging:
My mind, through the power of truth, was in a good degree weaned from the desire of outward greatness, and I was learning to be content with real conveniences, that were not costly, so that a way of life free from much entanglement appeared best for me, though the income might be small. - The Journal of John Woolman, Quaker (and Other Selected Writings) (A Christian Classic!) (Kindle Locations 314-316).
Along with his thoughts on simplicity, I was struck by how he learned to be silent until led to speak by God. It seemed that, like many of us, when he was younger he would often enter into an argument, believing he had the truth and had to share it (and in being against slavery, he was correct in this). But over time he seemed to have learned, as we all need to, that there is a time to be silent and a time to speak:
It was my concern from day to day to say neither more nor less than what the spirit of truth opened in me, being jealous over myself lest I should say anything to make my testimony look agreeable to that mind in people which is not in pure obedience to the cross of Christ - The Journal of John Woolman, Quaker (and Other Selected Writings) (A Christian Classic!) (Kindle Locations 1224-1226).
I think his words in regards to business would also be good for Christian (or all) business leaders:
As he is the perfection of power, of wisdom, and of goodness, so I believe he hath provided that so much labor shall be necessary for men’s support in this world as would, being rightly divided, be a suitable employment of their time; and that we cannot go into superfluities, or grasp after wealth in a way contrary to his wisdom, without having connection with some degree of oppression, and with that spirit which leads to self-exaltation and strife, and which frequently brings calamities on countries by parties contending about their claims - The Journal of John Woolman, Quaker (and Other Selected Writings) (A Christian Classic!) (Kindle Locations 1439-1442).
I was renewedly confirmed in a belief, that if all our inhabitants lived according to sound wisdom, laboring to promote universal love and righteousness, and ceased from every inordinate desire after wealth, and from all customs which are tinctured with luxury, the way would be easy for our inhabitants, though they might be much more numerous than at present, to live comfortably on honest employments, without the temptation they are so often under of being drawn into schemes to make settlements on lands which have not been purchased of the Indians, or of applying to that wicked practice of selling rum to them - The Journal of John Woolman, Quaker (and Other Selected Writings) (A Christian Classic!) (Kindle Locations 1532-1536).
If this was a real review, I could be a bit critical. The journal is a bit slow at times, with a lot of “we traveled here and slept here and met this person and so on and so forth.” Some questions are left unanswered as the journal only provides a glimpse into his life that a biography would fill. One example is his wife. What happened to her? He does not mention her much, that is for sure. But such things aside, this is a Christian classic. I could list many other quotes from the book I find challenging and inspiring (which if you care to read them, I do list on my blog: http://davehershey.wordpress.com/2013...)(less)
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Mar 06, 2017Lrgallagher rated it really liked it
very helpful - a classic
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Feb 26, 2017Collin rated it it was ok
From a more agnostic point of view, this book was difficult to push through. Woolman filled his auto with large amounts of repetitiveness and a hundred ways of saying or describing God in his life--his divine love filled my heart as I spread butter on toast. If I was on a ship, in 1770, and I hit a hurricane, no amount of belief in God could steady the inner me. On a lighter note the man stuck to his morals, for that I give him kudos, and it gave an interesting perspective on the times.
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Aug 09, 2015Matt rated it really liked it
That this book was included in the Harvard Classics was a gift. I'd never heard of it, but it is well worth the read. John Woolman was an early American contemporary of Ben Franklin's but whereas Franklin (simplistically) credited industry/hard work with a person's success in the world, Woolman credits God-given balance in life for a person's success:
"As he is the perfection of power, of wisdom, and of goodness, so I believe he hath provided that so much labor shall be necessary for men’s support in this world as would, being rightly divided, be a suitable employment of their time; and that we cannot go into superfluities, or grasp after wealth in a way contrary to his wisdom, without having connection with some degree of oppression, and with that spirit which leads to self-exaltation and strife, and which frequently brings calamities on countries by parties contending about their claims."
His story is special because of his effect on Quaker thought insofar as slave-holding was concerned. To him, slavery was a natural extension of grasping after wealth and thus not worthy of a Christian.
"I further reminded them how the prophets repeatedly declare “that the son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, but every one be answerable for his own sins.” I was troubled to perceive the darkness of their imaginations, and in some pressure of spirit said, “The love of ease and gain are the motives in general of keeping slaves, and men are wont to take hold of weak arguments to support a cause which is unreasonable. I have no interest on either side, save only the interest which I desire to have in the truth. I believe liberty is their right, and as I see they are not only deprived of it, but treated in other respects with inhumanity in many places, I believe He who is a refuge for the oppressed will, in his own time, plead their cause, and happy will it be for such as walk in uprightness before him.”"
Quite a contrast from Franklin. (less)
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Sep 09, 2015Todd Luallen rated it really liked it · review of another edition
An enjoyable look into the life of a 18th Century Quaker in and around the Colonies. His passion for those that were over-looked and over-worked was immense. He traveled broadly in an effort to convince the Friends (Quaker communities) to free their slaves and to refrain from participating in any business that was built upon the backs of the over-worked or oppressed. His heart broke for the native Indians that were forced from their lands via shady business deals and were then forced into a life of subsistence that all true Christians should abhor. He believed strongly that many settlers in the Colonies that owned slaves were doing themselves a disservice, both to their current holiness and to their posterity, by providing so much leisure time as to invite a more fertile soil for sinfulness. In addition, the typical life of the slave he believed, was so oppressive as to make hope and joy in following after the religion of their owners a near impossibility. Woolman was very vocal about his convictions, but most gracious in the way in which he presented his case to those that still held slaves or were not convinced.
Much of his journal is redundant in that it presents his telling of his passion in different areas of the Colonies. The final quarter of the book is much more specific and to the point without the travel journal diary that tends to be a bit dry in the rest of the book.
There is plenty for the reader to glean from this book, but I would propose two things will stand out the most. First, that John Woolman thought slavery brutal, sinful, and a total blight on ALL who participated in it. Second, that John Woolman believed wholeheartedly that the life a Godly Christian should be one of simple living, devoted to the command to "do unto others what you would have them do unto you." (less)
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Sep 15, 2016J. rated it it was ok · review of another edition
I read this because it is on the Harvard Classics list, not (as it turns out) because it is a real page turner. This was not a great literary piece and is a bit of a snooze, but if you're interested in the nascent abolitionist movement in the Colonies in the mid 1700's, this is a good resource. I admire Woolman's tenacity as he was a strong advocate of abolition (once refusing to write a will containing slaves as property and suggesting a boycott of products from the West Indies), helping Native Americans from vices gripping their nations, living a simple life, and giving up everything to preach his convictions. He was an advocate for the poor and for the humane treatment of animals, and he hated the corruption of youth when employed as sailors. He freely expressed these ideas at a time when a lot of his convictions were not mainstream or accepted. It's amazing the thousands of miles he traveled throughout the Colonies and to England to spread his ideals. His story ends tragically, *SPOILER* Woolman dies of small pox in England thousands of miles away from family and friends, but he was at least resigned to what he believed were divine afflictions.
My favorite quote: “The Most High doth not often speak with an outward voice to our outward ears, but if we humbly mediate on his perfections, consider that he is perfect wisdom and goodness, and that to afflict his creatures to no purpose would be utterly averse to his nature, we shall hear and understand his language both in his gentle and more heavy chastisements, and shall take heed that we do not, in the wisdom of this world, endeavor to escape his hand by means too powerful for us.” (less)
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Sep 16, 2015Brian Miller rated it did not like it
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
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Jul 17, 2010Paul rated it it was amazing · review of another edition
I knew that Woolman did a lot to get Quakers to oppose slavery (about 100 years before it became popular in the Northern US), and expected a case study of how someone tries to follow conscience / God. It is that, but the part I didn't know to expect was how many of Woolman's concerns were about issues that are still relevant today. (Slavery still exists, but few would argue that it's good or necessary. These other concerns are still sometimes a matter of debate in the US.)
In addition to taking on slavery, Woolman addresses fair trade, economic justice, ethically-made clothes, locally-grown food, and the treatment of animals.
As one of the great activists of the 16th century, it is particularly interesting that early in his life, he went against social pressure to choose a career that would pay less, but give him more time. An important strategy, I think, as I consider my excuses for not doing more to improve the world... (less)
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Oct 28, 2008Shelley rated it liked it
John Woolman is an example of being completely committed to what he felt was right. He seemed to be a spiritual giant, intent on his personal relationship with God and his inward worship. He had tremendous faith that if he acted for the right's sake, he would be blessed. He made great advances for the cause of freeing slaves although that wouldn't happen for another century or so. But his reasoning was perhaps erring on the side of principle rather than true reasoning. As in the case of war, his religious beliefs were completely against it, so under no circumstance would he support it, not monetarily, not by paying taxes, not by sailing on a ship that would eventually pay to support the war effort. Sometimes I had to laugh at him, but I admire him in that once he was converted to his truth, he defended it to the end. (less)
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Aug 28, 2015Nola Redd rated it really liked it
Shelves: classics, nonfiction-biography, nonfiction-philosophy
John Woolman lived in colonial America before it was America. At a time when the colonies were young, an encounter led him to ponder the nature and moral appropriateness of slavery. He subsequently traveled to numerous Quaker meetings to preach the immorality of professed Christians holding other men as property. In pondering the relationship of money and slavery, he quickly concludes that a love of riches and unnecessary comforts not only encourages slavery but also other unrighteous behavior.
Woolman is not eloquent with a phrase, but the words he pens are from the heart. At times, his journal became somewhat monotonous, given his occasional brief descriptions of his trips. Still, it was interesting to read and point his perspective, not only on slavery but also on the very cost of prosperity. (less)
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